Download: Coffinworm -"Start Saving For Your Funeral"
Download: Landmine Marathon - "Exist"
by The WZAd (ATX)
That's right folks! Fred from Brooklynvegan, Rich from 1000 Knives and I (from Crustcake of course) have been working to bring you a special show during SXSW! Featuring such bands as Landmine Marathon, Kill the Client, Coffinworm and Zoroaster. All that awesomeness and right now the headliner is still "secret," this will be a show you won't want to miss!
Held in the intimate venue of Hoek's death metal pizza, the show will start around noon and go until about seven. We're all very excited to be able to bring this show to you, and we hope to see you there! Oh, did I forget to mention that this show is FREE????? Sorry. Details below.
Where: Hoek's Death Metal Pizza, on 6th street
When: Thursday, March 17th @ noon
Scrilla: $0
Setlist (in order from first to last):
-Speedwolf
-Book of The Black Earth
-The Funeral Pyre
-Landmine Marathon
-The Atlas Moth
-Zoroaster
-Coffinworm
-Kill the Client
-Trash Talk
February 26, 2010
CRUSTCAKE, BROOKLYNVEGAN AND 1000 KNIVES PRESENT: OUR SECRET SXSW DAY SHOWCASE SHOW!!!!!!
February 25, 2010
HOODED MENACE RELEASE ALBUM ARTWORK, 'AS THE CREATURES ASCEND' MP3
Download: Hooded Menace - "As The Creatures Ascend" [MP3]
Finland's Hooded Menace have unleashed the artwork for their upcoming full-length Never Cross The Dead. While the release date is still TBA, Profound Lore estimates it to be available late March/early April.
Following their death/doom masterpiece Fulfill The Curse, Never Cross The Dead looks to take Hooded Menace into still doomier territory. Check out the MP3 above, and more from all of Profound Lore's roster at their MP3 page.
Vinyl versions will more than likely become available through Doomentia, who just released a Hooded Menace/Anima Morte limited 7" split and have release all previous Hooded Menace vinyl. Read more for Justin Bartlett's excellent artwork for the split!
You can read more about the 7" at Hooded Menace's myspace blog or at Doomentia's webstore.
CRUSTCAKE PICKS: CHICAGO SHOWS 2/25 - 3/3
by Andrew Wilhelm (CHI)
Sup Windy City Windmillers,
Apologies for not keeping up with the Chicago show picks. Grad school gets at a dude. I'll make this quick.
Now, for the two items to be on your metal agenda. First, blackened experimental noise duo Locrian will sacrifice what's left of their sanity for the audience at the Empty Bottle. Dark synth-poppers Cold Cave were to headline the show, but they bailed, so it's Locrian's night to shine in total darkness.
But if you're looking for something with some speed, Misery Index and Magrudergrind will tear up Reggie's Rock Club on Sunday. Misery Index are more death than grind, and Magrudergrind are more grind than death, but in the heat of the pit, such distinctions matter not.
Both of these shows are cheap, so don't be a bitch!
Crustcake Picks - Chicago Shows 2/25 - 3/3Thursday February 25 - Locrian, Sun Splitter @ Empty Bottle
Sunday February 28 - Misery Index, Magrudergrind, Like Rats, Morgue Supplier, Wasted Fortune, Primitive Evolution @ Reggie's Rock Club
February 24, 2010
HOWL RELEASE ALBUM ART FOR FULL OF HELL
As Mr. Gary Suarez said on his Twitter, "[The] artwork for HOWL's forthcoming album looks like someone set Baroness' artwork on fire. It's a good start." That artwork was done by Ryan Begley, and it is awesome.
The album, titled Full of Hell, has already been recorded and will be released in May. While you're waiting, you can see them on tour with bands like Skeletonwitch, Black Tusk and Iron Age. Wow!
Show dates below.
Howl with Skeletonwitch and Iron Age 2010February 24 Knoxville, TN @The Cider House (w/ BLACK TUSK)
Howl with Javelina 2010
February 25 Savannah, GA @The Jinx
February 26 Birmingham, AL @The Nick (w/ BLACK TUSK)
February 27 Memphis, TN @Hi Tone (w/ BLACK TUSK)
February 28 St. Louis, MO @FubarMarch 13 Richmond, VA @Piaza Bowl (w/ TOMBS)
March 14 Greenville, SC @Earshot Records (w/ BISON B.C.)
March 15 Atlanta, GA @PS Warehouse (w/ BISON B.C.)
March 17 Austin, TX @Red 7 (as part of Relapse Records 2010 SXSW Showcase)
March 18 San Antonio, TX @The Pedicab (w/ WITHERED)
March 19 Dallas, TX @The Phoenix Project
March 20 Austin, TX @Emo’s (12 noon as part of Full Metal Texas)
March 20 Austin, TX @Red 7 (2pm as part of BrooklynVegan showcase)
March 21 Little Rock, AR @Downtown Music
March 22 Nashville, TN @The Muse
March 23 Indianapolis, IN @The Dojo
March 24 Pittsburgh, PA @Kopecs (w/ THE CLAW)
April 23 Worcester, MA @Palladium (as part of New England Metal and Hardcore Fest)
May 28 Baltimore, MD @Sonar (as part of Maryland Deathfest)
BIRTH A.D. DEBUT VIDEO FOR 'PARASITES DIE'
Leeches are total dicks, right? Whether they're taking your blood, your money, or your High Life, nobody wants to be in the company of 'em. Yet they still reproduce like fucking rabbits.
Austin thrashers Birth A.D. feel your pain, and to help you cope, they made a video for "Parasites Die." In the tradition of bands like Fearless Iranians from Hell and Stormtroopers of Death, they're un-P.C. and proud of it. In fact, speaking of S.O.D., the video was filmed at Austin club Headhunter's, which Billy Milano owns. The song's from their totally killer debut Stillbirth of a Nation, and if crossover's your business, your business will be good.
Check out the video after the jump.
February 19, 2010
ACTION! PR SXSW SHOWCASE SHOW ANNOUNCED
And so it begins.
That is, our coverage of SXSW, Austin's premier four-day music festival. In this space, we'll be detailing all the shows and bands you NEED to see, and when you should see them.
First up, we have ACTION! PR's showcase show, featuring some of today's best Stoner and Doom metal bands, including Bison B.C., The Gates of Slumber and a small upcoming band called HIGH ON FIRE. As the flyer says, this will be High on Fire's only SXSW appearance, so don't miss this one!
The show takes place on Wednesday, March 17th, the first day of the festival. We'll see you there!
February 18, 2010
CRUSTCAKE PICKS: ATX SHOWS 2/18 - 2/25
by The WZAd (ATX)
Sup ATX? Ready for a week of Hardcore, Grindcore and Powerviolence? Of course you are, you live in Austin and read Crustcake!
Starting off the week is a hardcore show at Trailer Space Records, featuring Cali spastic hardcore punk act The Separation, and one of my favorite local powerviolence bands, Chest Pain.
Later, we have original crossover act D.R.I. I can guarantee that you won't want to miss this show; I saw them at Fun Fun Fun Fest this year and they haven't aged at all (not true, but they did kick a lot of ass). This will definitely be a thrashin' good time. All you Municipal Waste fans out there - I declare you false if you don't show up to this show.
Finally, we have a good ol' fashioned grindviolence show to cap off the week. Recent Relapse signees Kill the Client will be playing a show with Mammoth Grinder and Chest Pain in tow. If you like grindcore or powerviolence in any capacity whatsoever, going to this show is Mandatory.
Full show dates below.
Three shows for y'all:Thursday, February 18th
The Separation, Lockstep, Unstoppable and Chest Pain @ Trailer Space Records, 7pm
Sunday, February 21st D.R.I., Blunt Force Trauma, Birth A.D. and Condemned Unit @ Emo's
Thursday, February 25th Kill the Client, Mammoth Grinder, Mindless and Chest Pain
February 16, 2010
CRUSTY CLIP OF THE WEEK: HEAR N' AID - WE'RE STARS
Every single Wednesday without fail, your hosts post a suitably stale video clip that we think needs to be revisited. Click here for more Crusty Clips. Got a clip you think we should post? Send it to crustcake@gmail.com.
by Andrew Wilhelm (CHI)
"We are the World" is perhaps one of the least metal things ever put to tape, so leave it to God himself, Ronnie James motherfuckin' Dio to make it all right. He assembled Hear n' Aid, an all-star project intended to raise money to combat hunger in Africa. The video for "We're Stars," the project's sole effort, features the usual band of artists huddled together in the chorus, but with Blackie Lawless and Rob Halford instead of Stevie Wonder and Billy Joel. Shit, they even got fuckin' Spinal Tap to do this! And how the fuck did Ted Nugent get in there? Did he have a safari business being demolished by malnutrition? Point is, if Dio is wailing to stop hunger, you best well be firin' up the phone lines!
And with a new version of "We are the World" released, featuring the marginal talents of T-Pain, Fergie, Justin Beiber, a mis-placed Jeff Bridges* and other pop schlocksters, it's time to revisit this lost classic.
Bob Geldof wishes he had Yngwie Malmsteen's sick leads on his (not-so)charitable atrocities.
* P.S. - Don't let the critics fool you, Crazy Heart ain't all that.
February 15, 2010
THE RED CHORD PREMIERE NEW VIDEO, LOSE DRUMMER, GET NEW-OLD DRUMMER
The Red Chord have had an interesting week: they just released a video for "Demoralizer" off of their latest record Fed Through The Teeth Machine and lost long time drummer Brad Fickeisen. Filling Brad's place behind the kit is The Red Chord's original drummer Mike Justian. Justian played on the The Red Chord's first record Fused Together In Revolving Doors and went on to play with Unearth, 108, Shai Hulud and Trap Them (he played on Trap Them's phenomenal Seizures In Barren Praise).
108 have a new record coming out via Deathwish Inc. that features Justian on drums. You can check it out from Deathwish's audio player here.
Read more for the "Demoralizer" video.
THE CRUSTCAST: EPISODE 2
by The WZAd (ATX)
Download: The Crustcast [MP3]
Hey y'all! So, we got your feedback after our first episode, and MAN was there a lot of feedback. Most of it was constructive too! So, we took your suggestions, applied them, and now this episode is better than the first one; now there are more samples, more relevant news and more funny! That's right, there are more funny! Plus: I demonstrate my age by not knowing who Layne Staley is. Oops!
This week, we have Brooklynvegan's Fred Pessaro and Metalsucks' Gary Suarez as guests on the show, with Sean and I holding down the fort on the Crustcake side. We have one hell of a time.
Of course, not everything is perfect. I screwed up the recording so people sound a little robot-like but it's not that distracting, I swear.
One last thing - I'm trying to get the podcast feed up on iTunes, and while they haven't got back to us yet, you can subscribe to our podcast feed through iTunes or whatever podcast subscriber you have by plugging in our podcast feed. So there you go! Hope you enjoy. And like last time, we are OF COURSE taking feedback - let us know what you think about the show! Next episode won't take as long, I promise.
Show notes, including songs used, below.
Songs included in order of appearance:
Shrinebuilder – "Solar Benediction"
Landmine Marathon – "Bile Towers"
Struck by Lightning – "The Watchful Eye"
Down – "There’s Something on my Side"
Arckanum – "Þórhati"
Skarhead – "P.S.P."
Alice in Chains – "Check My Brain"
High on Fire – "Frost Hammer"
Hatred Surge – "Skull Cell"
Voivod – "Tribal Convictions"
News Mentioned:
Scion Rock Fest 2010 Lineup
D.R.I. Reissues Crossover
Southern Lord Subscription Series
New Twilight Album Title Leaks
Soundgarden Reunites
Weedeater frontman shoots off toe
Skarhead's P.S.P. Video
Mayhem Fest 2010 Lineup
February 11, 2010
LIVE REVIEW: PENTAGRAM, THE GATES OF SLUMBER, SOUL POWER TRIO
Photo by: Hallie Liebling
by Andrew Wilhelm (CHI)
Pentagram
When: Saturday, January 30, 2010
Where: The Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
With: The Gates of Slumber, Soul Power Trio
"My one life's goal is survival/I ain't got time for no rival"
The last line of Pentagram's last song from their self-titled 1985 debut defines the trajectory of the band - or rather, its frontman, Bobby Liebling. He's been on a death watch for the past few years - is he back on smack? Did he collapse on stage? Which show will be his last? If it turns out to be this one, Liebling will have went out in fine form. Luckily, he ain't dead just yet.
Pentagram were supposedly recording a live album, but the night of January 30, 2010 sure as hell didn't feel like a contractual obligation. One could tell that this was going to be some enchanted evening from that the band were clean out of merch save for some old posters and some vinyl copies of First Daze Here Too. People were possessed to rock, and when you know it ain't retro but the real fuckin' deal, to possession there is no alternative. Live free and burn.
The idea of a metal lounge band sounds baffling, but locals Soul Power Trio could be considered such. Like Blue Cheer gone Fucking Champs, they squealed out bluesy leads galore as if they forgot heavy metal isn't about the blues, but the greys. That's not a diss against the band - one can only take in so many minor keys. If the guitars ever approached too great of tensity, they always fell back comfortably on the slow grooves of the rhythm section. Knowing when to play and when not to play - that's soul power. Things got progressively doomier as their set wore on, possibly to honor the rumbling plod of the bands to come after them. If Kuma's were to ever become "swanky," Soul Power Trio would be their house band.
The Gates of Slumber were not chill, by contrast - they were charging. While they've recorded a variety of types of songs - rockers, doomers, epics, and even a ballad on their new record, Hymns of Blood and Thunder - they stuck mainly to the rockers. A wise choice, since they had little time to prove a lot. "Ice Worm" and "Iron Hammer" resulted in plenty of horns and invisible citrus, but throwing a slow one in there - "Angel of Death" - didn't kill the momentum. Vocalist/guitarist Karl Simon has his weathered Wino/Mark the Shark fusion voice down pat, which benefitted the band's image of metal lifers hanging on. When Simon thanked the people in the front for bangin' and dedicated "Trapped in the Web" to them, it summed up their outlook: forget the masses, it's about the few and the proud. It was also cool to hear that Be Forwarned was Simon's first Pentagram record - mine too.
And then came the masters themselves, Pentagram. With the darkened stage and Liebling's gothic attire, the band - drummer Gary Isom, bassist Mark Ammen, and guitarist Russ "Secret Weapon" Strahan - took roost and commanded the crowd's attention. Liebling has his odd habits - air guitaring as if the guitar was designed by Dali, strutting across the stage like he's having convulsions - but damnit, that's what makes him Bobby Liebling. While the band's first two full-lengths are known for their spectral recording qualities, live the guitars come out roaring like lions with a lust for gladiator blood. "All Your Sins" live is all brimstone, preached by Father Liebling, and "Review Your Choices" was emancipated from the muddy production its studio version was plagued by. The man behind the 'gram even used his reputation for erratic behavior to his advantage, dramatically falling to the ground towards the end of "Petrified." Might this be the end? Moments later, he sprung back up accompanied by a wind-down Judas Priest would be proud of. More surprising was that "Petrified" was not the best slow number of the night, but a new song was! The song where you're supposed to get another beer was one of the best songs of the night! "South of the Swamp" oozed of southern sloth - Strahan's tone hasn't been heavier. "Swamp" will be on Pentagram's forthcoming Last Rites, and if the album is as half has heavy as that song, Griffin and Hasselvander should be taking notes.
Normally, one should be playing arenas to do more than one encore, but Pentagram have been around for 40 years, so they're an exception. Liebling and company kidded the crowd into thinking that "20 Buck Spin" was the last song, only to come back from a bar-burning rendition of "Sign of the Wolf." We just can win after all. For their second encore, Bruce Franklin of Trouble came out and did "When the Screams Come" with the band. Cameos may have mostly gone the way of Ozzfest, where they used to be common, but it was still a treat to see two doom legends on stage. A rendition of "R.I.P." would have been nice too, but beggars can't be choosers.
This show was about perseverance. If you sweat it out in the garage, storage unit, or basement long enough, people will follow you.
February 4, 2010
ALCEST AND LES DISCRETS RELEASE ALBUM ARTWORK
Alcest (Neige of Amesoeurs) and Les Discrets have announced album details and North American release dates. Alcest's Ècailles De Lune and Les Discrets' Septembre Et Ses Dernières Pensées will both see North American releases on April 20th via Prophecy Productions. The two bands released a split together in 2009 that saw Alcest with some of the "cold wave" sounds found on the late Amesoeurs records. What direction will Niege the band on Ècailles?
Artwork (which for Alcest is particularly awesome) and track listing after the jump. 
Alcest - Ècailles De Lune track listing:1. Ècailles De Lune (part I)
2. Ècailles De Lune (part II)
3. Percées De Lumière
4. Abysses
5. Solar Song
6. Sur L'Océan Couleur De Fer
Les Discrets - Septembre Et Ses Dernières Pensées:1. L'envol Des Corbeaux
2. L'échappée
3. Les Feuilles De L'olivier
4. Song For Mountains
5. Sur Les Quais
6. Effet De Nuit
7. Septembre Et Ses Dernières Pensées
8. Chanson D'automne
9. Svipdagr & Freyja
10. Une Matinée D'hiver
TRIPTYKON RELEASE ALBUM ARTWORK FOR EPARISTERA DAIMONES
Tom Warrior (Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, duh) released the artwork for his latest project Triptykon's upcoming debut album, Eparistera Daimones (March 23, 2010, Century Media). The album features art by renowned Swiss artist H.R. Giger and New York-based surrealist Vincent Castiglia.
Giger granted Warrior (née Thomas Gabriel Fischer) the use of "Vlad Tepes" (work no. 412, 200 x 140 cm, acrylic on paper on wood, 1978), the first Giger-authorized appearance on an album cover in 17 years, and the second time he collaborated with Warrior (Celtic Frost's To Mega Therion in 1985).
Castiglia contributed "Triptykon", a specially created portrait of the members of the group, painted in the artist's own blood (86 x 86 cm, blood/iron oxide on archival paper, 2009).
Triptykon consists of Warrior, V. Santura (guitar, vocals), Norman Lonhard (drums, percussion), Vanja Slajh (bass). The album will be available as a double-LP gatefold, with two posters, and a Mediabook-CD, with 28 pages of extensive liner notes, lyrics and credits.
You'll remember that we told you in August that Warrior was chosen to curate this year's disgustingly-cool Roadburn festival. So that's really awesome and we wish we could go. Like Andy asked, "An entire stage curated by Tom G. Warrior? Thorr's Hammer AND Goatsnake reuniting? Candlemass performing Epicus Doomicus Metallicus in its entirety? Motherfucking Comus? Can this fest get any better?" No, Andy, it can't. 
Eparistera Daimones:1. Goetia
Upcoming Triptykon shows:
2. Abyss Within My Soul
3. In Shrouds Decayed
4. Shrine
5. A Thousand Lies
6. Descendant
7. Myopic Empire
8. My Pain
9. The ProlongingApril 16 - Tilburg, The Netherlands – 013 / Roadburn Festival
April 30 - Barroselas, Portugal – SWR Barroselas Metalfest
February 1, 2010
FRESHLY BAKED: RADIATION BLACKBODY
Photo by: Samantha Marble
In "Freshly Baked," we feature promising young bands or bands that are otherwise lacking the attention we think they deserve.
[Download]: Radiation Blackbody - "Crossed Embolism"
[Download]: Defeatist - "Terminal Existence"
[Download]: Anodyne - "Crop Circle"
by theseseans (NYC)
Moving from California to NYC without contacts or friends may seem like a challenging experience, but in 2000 Joel Stallings did just that. A decade later Joel found himself with Joshua Scott as the foundation of basement grind specialists Defeatist and with a rich history in NYC's underground. Before Defeatist the two were the rhythm section of the now defunct Anodyne, Joshua on bass and Joel on drums. Together in rhythm they have been the back-bone of some of NYC's best bands and have helped prevent the vertebrae of NYC's underground, heavy-music scene from breaking. Having conquered a country coast to coast and executed precision grind (without ever counting off!) there should be no surprise that the two have started a new band, just bass and drums. Radiation Blackbody is a little violent and experimental but is not at all challenging to enjoy. 
Photo by: Justina Villanueva
"I think we started doing it because Josh has a way of spazzing out at practice, and improvising these chaotic riffs." Joel commented on the formation of Radiation Blackbody. "They didn't really sound like Defeatist riffs, so we decided to experiment with it. I think we did this just to do something that is not straight grindcore, to experiment with a different approach."
Radiation Blackbody has similarities to the duo's past, but here they are the main focus. While still a rhythm section, in Radiation Blackbody Joel and Joshua are by no means just a rhythm section. Each instrument sounds like it is being approached as a lead, the drums unravel and showcase Joshua's excellent phrasing outside of grindcore's demanding blasting regiment (although some blastbeats are still present in Radiation Blackbody, when needed). Joshua is never lazy on the bass. In Radiation Blackbody his double tracked distorted bass lines climb the fret board in such fury, that the structure and hooks of the songs become the real surprise. When asked if this band was formed for the two to express these "lead-like" styles of playing Joshua said, "I don't know if it was that conscious on our part. It was really just whatever weird riffs we wanted to play, seeing how it came together, and then trying to get some sort of structure out of it."
Their self-titled debut will be released by the band themselves in a few months. They are currently planning to release a vinyl for purchase, and will most likey, "just post the songs online too, people can download it if they don't want to buy the record." I can not emphasize enough how enjoyable this record is. It may just be bass and drums, but the spirit of adventure and challenge is very audible on Radiation Blackbody.
Joshua and Joel's other band Defeatist has two releases coming out this year: one full length entitled Sixth Extinction via Willowtip Records and a split with ASRA and Triac via Deep Six Records. We can expect more Defeatist styled grind when Joel says, "Last time, we recorded 20 songs at the same session and then we split them up between three seven inches. That eventually came out as one CD [Sharp Blades Sinks Deep Into Dull Minds]. But this is the exact same approach. We just put it out as a full length instead of splitting it up." The same approach doesn't just mean "just another grind record."
Though it can be hard to tell in grind's natural setting (poorly mic'd DIY shows), there is some depth to the music. When I relayed this sentiment to them, Joel responded, "We'll have to try to do less in the future!" Laughter ensued in the moment, but irony held the final straw. It's funny to think about Joel and Joshua ever giving less than their all.
